M
machine - n. a device with moving parts used to do work
magazine - n. a publication of news, stories, pictures or
other information
mail - n. letters, papers and other things sent through an
official system, such as a post office
main - ad. the most important or largest
major - ad. great in size, importance or amount
majority - n. the greater number; more than half
make - v. to produce; to create; to build; to do something or
to carry out an action; to cause to be or to become
male - n. a man or boy; the sex that is the father of
children; ad. of or about men
man - n. an adult male human
manufacture - v. to make goods in large amounts
many - ad. a large number or amount of
map - n. a picture of the earth's surface or a part of it
march - v. to walk in a group like soldiers; to walk together
in a large group to protest about something
mark - v. to make a sign or cut on something
market - n. a place or area where goods are sold, bought or
traded; an economic system in which the prices of things are
decided by how many there are and how much money people are
willing to pay for them
marry - v. to join a man and woman together as husband and
wife; to become husband and wife (usually in a religious or
civil ceremony)
mass - n. an amount of matter having no special form and
usually of a large size
mate - v. to bring together a male and a female to create
another creature
material - n. the substance, substances or matter of which
something is made or from which something can be made, such as
wood, cloth or stone; anything that can be made into something
else
mathematics - n. the science dealing with amounts, sizes and
shapes, as explained by numbers and signs
matter - n. anything that can be seen or felt; what things are
made of
may - v. a word used with an action word to mean permit or
possible ("May I go?" "They may leave tomorrow.")
mayor - n. the chief official of a city or town government
meal - n. food eaten to satisfy hunger, such as dinner
mean - v. to want to; to give the idea of; to have the idea of
measure - v. to learn the amount, size or distance of
something; n. an action taken; a legislative proposal
meat - n. the part of a dead animal used for food
media - n. all public information organizations, including
newspapers, television and radio
medicine - n. a substance or drug used to treat disease or
pain; the science or study of treating and curing disease or
improving health
meet - v. to come together with someone or something at the
same time and place
melt - v. to make a solid into a liquid by heating it
member - n. one of a group
memorial - n. something done or made to honor the memory of a
person or event
memory - n. a picture in the mind of past events; the ability
to remember; a thing remembered
mental - ad. about or having to do with the mind
mercy - n. kindness toward those who should be punished; the
power to be kind or to pardon
message - n. written or spoken news or information; a note
from one person to another person or group
metal - n. a hard substance such as iron, steel or gold
method - n. the way something is done
microscope - n. a device used to make very small things look
larger so they can be studied
middle - n. the center; a place or time of equal distance from
both sides or ends; ad. in the center
militant - n. someone active in trying to cause political
change, often by the use of force or violence
military - n. the armed forces of a nation or group; ad. of or
about the armed forces
milk - n. the white liquid produced by female animals to feed
their young
mind - n. the thinking, feeling part of a person
mine - v. to dig useful or valuable substances out of the
earth; n. a place in the earth where such substances are
found; a bomb placed under the ground or under water
so it cannot be seen
mineral - n. a substance found in nature that is not an animal
or a plant, such as coal or salt
minister - n. a member of a cabinet; a high government
official ("prime minister,"foreign minister")
minor - ad. small in size; of little importance
minority - n. the smaller number; opposite majority
minute - n. a measure of time; one of the sixty equal parts of
an hour; sixty seconds
miss - v. to fail to hit, see, reach or meet
missile - n. any weapon that can be thrown or fired through
the air and explodes when it reaches its target
missing - ad. lost; not found
mistake - n. a wrong action or decision; an action done
without the knowledge that it was wrong
mix - v. to put different things together to make one thing
mob - n. a large group of wild or angry people
model - n. an example; something, usually small, made to show
how something will look or work
moderate - ad. not extreme
modern - ad. of the present or very recent time; the most
improved
money - n. pieces of metal or paper used to pay for things
month - n. one of the twelve periods of time into which a year
is divided
moon - n. the bright object often seen in the night sky that
orbits the earth about every twenty-nine days
moral - ad. concerning what is right or wrong in someone's
actions
more - ad. greater in size or amount
morning - n. the early part of the day, from sunrise until
noon
most - ad. greatest in size or amount
mother - n. the female parent; a woman who has a child or
children
motion - n. a movement; a continuing change of position or
place
mountain - n. a part of the earth's surface that rises high
above the area around it
mourn - v. to express or feel sadness
move - v. to change position; to put or keep in motion; to go
movement - n. the act of moving or a way of moving; a series
of acts or efforts to reach a goal
movie - n. a motion picture; a film
much - ad. great in amount
murder - v. to kill another person illegally; n. the crime of
killing another person
music - n. the making of sounds by singing or using a musical
instrument
must - v. a word used with an action word to mean necessary
("You must go to school.")
mystery - n. something that is not or cannot be explained or
understood; a secret
N
name - v. to appoint; to nominate; to give a name to; n. a
word by which a person,
animal or thing is known or called
narrow - ad. limited in size or amount; not wide; having a
short distance from one side to the other
nation - n. a country, together with its social and political
systems
native - n. someone who was born in a place, not one who moved
there
natural - ad. of or about nature; normal; common to its kind
nature - n. all the plants, animals and other things on earth
not created by humans; events or processes not caused by
humans
navy - n. the part of a country's military force trained to
fight at sea
near - ad. not far; close to
necessary - ad. needed to get a result or effect; required
need - v. to require; to want; to be necessary to have or to
do
negotiate - v. to talk about a problem or situation to find a
common solution
neither - ad. not one or the other of two
neutral - ad. not supporting one side or the other in a
dispute
never - ad. at no time; not ever
new - ad. not existing before; not known before; recently
made, built, bought or grown; another; different
news - n. information about any recent events, especially as
reported by the media
next - ad. coming immediately after; nearest
nice - ad. pleasing; good; kind
night - n. the time between when the sun goes down and when it
rises, when there is little or no light
no - ad. used to reject or to refuse; not any; not at all
noise - n. sound, especially when loud
nominate - v. to name someone as a candidate for an election;
to propose a person for an office or position
noon - n. the middle of the day; twelve o'clock in the daytime
normal - n. the usual condition, amount or form; ad. usual;
what is expected
north - n. the direction to the left of a person facing the
rising sun
not - ad. a word showing that something is denied or untrue
("She is not going.")
note - v. to talk about something already known; n. a word or
words written to help a person remember; a short letter
nothing - n. not anything; no thing
now - ad. at this time; immediately
nowhere - ad. not in, to or at any place
nuclear - ad. of or about the energy produced by splitting
atoms or bringing them together; of or about weapons that
explode by using energy from atoms
number - n. a word or sign used to show the order or amount of
things
O
obey - v. to act as one is ordered to act
object - v. to show that one does not like or approve; to
protest; n. something not alive that can be seen or touched
observe - v. to watch; to look at carefully; to celebrate or
honor something ("They
will observe the anniversary of the day she was born.")
occupy - v. to take and hold or to control by force
ocean - n. the area of salt water that covers almost
seventy-five percent of the earth's surface; any of the five
main divisions of this water
of - prep. made from; belonging to; about; connected to;
included among
off - ad. away; at a distance; condition when something is no
longer operating or continuing; not on; not connected
offensive - n. a military campaign of attack; ad. having to do
with attacking
offer - v. to present or propose; n. the act of presenting or
proposing; that which is presented or proposed
office - n. a room or building where business or work is done;
a public position to which one is elected or appointed
officer - n. a person in the military who commands others; any
person who is a member of a police force
official - n. a person with power in an organization; a
representative of an organization or government; ad. of or
about an office; approved by the government or someone in
power
often - ad. many times
oil - n. a thick liquid that does not mix with water and that
burns easily; a black liquid taken from the ground and used as
fuel
old - ad. not young or new; having lived or existed for many
years
on - prep. above and held up by; touching the upper surface of
("The book is on the table."); supported by ("He is on his
feet."); about ("The report on the meeting is ready."); at the
time of ("He left on Wednesday.")
once - ad. one time only
only - ad. being the single one or ones; no more than ("We
have only two dollars.")
open - v. to start ("They opened talks."); ad. not closed; not
secret
operate - v. to do work or a job; to cut into the body for
medical reasons
opinion - n. a belief based on one's own ideas and thinking
oppose - v. to be against; to fight against
opposite - ad. different as possible; completely different
from; exactly the other way ("North is the opposite direction
from south.")
oppress - v. to make others suffer; to control by the use of
unjust and cruel force or power
or - conj. giving another of two choices; giving the last of
several choices
orbit - v. to travel in space around a planet or other object;
n. the path or way an object travels in space around another
object or planet
order - v. to give a command; to tell someone what to do; n. a
command; the correct or normal way things are organized; a
peaceful situation in which people obey laws
organize - v. to put in order; to put together into a system
other - ad. different; of another kind; the remaining one or
ones of two or more ">("That man is short; the other is
tall.")
our - ad. of or belonging to us
oust - v. to force to leave; to remove by force
out - ad. away from the inside; opposite of in
over - conj. above; covering; across, in or on every part of
("all over the world")
overthrow - v. to remove from power; to defeat or end by force
owe - v. to pay or have to repay (usually money) in return for
something received
own - v. to have or possess for oneself
P
pain - n. a hurt or suffering somewhere in the body
paint - v. to cover with a liquid color; to make a picture
with liquid colors; n. a colored liquid used to cover or
protect a surface
pan - n. a metal container used for cooking
paper - n. a thin, flat material made from plants or cloth
often used for writing
parachute - n. a device that permits a person or thing to fall
slowly from an airplane or helicopter to the ground
parade - n. a group of people and vehicles moving together to
celebrate a special event or anniversary
pardon - v. to forgive for a crime and release from punishment
parent - n. a father or mother
parliament - n. a government lawmaking group
part - n. something less than the whole; not all of something
party - n. a group of people working together for a political
purpose; a group of people or friends gathered together for
enjoyment
pass - v. to go by or move around something; to move along; to
cause or permit to go
passenger - n. a person travelling by airplane, train, boat or
car who is not the pilot or driver
passport - n. a document permitting a person to travel to
another country
past - n. the time gone by; the time before; ad. recent;
immediately before; former
path - n. a narrow way for walking; a way along which
something moves
patient - n. a person being treated by a doctor for a health
problem
pay - v. to give money for work done or for something bought
peace - n. the condition of freedom from war, fighting or
noise; rest; quiet
people - n. any group of persons; all the persons of a group,
race, religion or nation ("the American people")
percent - n. a part of every hundred ("Ten is ten percent of
one hundred.")
perfect - ad. complete or correct in every way; completely
right or good; without mistakes
perform - v. to speak, dance or sing in front of others
period - n. an amount of time within events, restrictions or
conditions
permanent - ad. never changing; lasting for a very long time
or for all time
permit - v. to let; to make possible
person - n. a man, woman or child
physical - ad. of the body
physics - n. the study of motion, matter and energy
picture - n. something that shows what another thing looks
like; an idea or representation of something as seen by the
eye; a painting; what is made with a camera
piece - n. a part of something larger
pig - n. a farm animal used for its meat
pilot - n. one who guides or flies an airplane or helicopter
pipe - n. a long, round piece of material used to move liquid
or gas
place - v. to put something somewhere; n. an area or a part of
an area; space where a person or thing is; any room, building,
town or country
plan - v. to organize or develop an idea or method of acting
or doing something ">("They plan to have a party."); n. an
organized or developed idea or method ("The plan will not
work.")
planet - n. a large object in space that orbits the sun
("Earth is a planet.")
plant - v. to put into the ground to grow; n. a living growth
from the ground which gets its food from air, water and earth
plastic - n. a material made from chemicals that can be formed
and made into things
play - v. to have fun; to not work; to take part in a sport;
to make music on an instrument; n. a story acted in a theater
please - v. to make one happy; to give enjoyment
plenty - n. all that is needed; a large enough amount
plot - v. to make secret plans; n. a secret plan to do
something wrong or illegal
poem - n. words and their sounds organized in a special way to
express emotions
point - v. to aim one's finger toward; to aim; n. the sharp
end of something
poison - n. a substance that can destroy life or damage health
police - n. a government agency responsible for guarding the
public, keeping order, and making sure people obey the law;
members of that agency
policy - n. an established set of plans or goals used to
develop and make decisions in politics, economics or business
politics - n. the activities of government and of those who
are in public office
pollute - v. to release dangerous or unpleasant substances
into the air, soil or water
poor - n. people with little or no money; ad. lacking money or
goods; of bad quality
popular - ad. liked by many people; generally approved by the
public
population - n. all the people in a place, city or country
port - n. a city where ships load or unload goods; a place on
a coast where ships can be safe from a storm
position - n. a place; the way of holding the body; the way a
thing is set or placed; a job (or level of a job) in an
organization
possess - v. to have; to own; to control or be controlled by
possible - ad. able to be done; can happen or is expected to
happen
postpone - v. to delay action until a later time
pour - v. to flow; to cause to flow
power - n. the ability to control or direct others; control;
strength; ruling force; force or energy used to do work
("Water power turns the wheel.")
praise - v. to say good things about; to approve
pray - v. to make a request to a god or spirit; to praise a
god or spirit
pregnant - ad. carrying a child within the body before it is
born; expecting to give birth to a baby
present - v. to offer for consideration ("We will present our
idea to the committee."); n. a gift ("I gave them a present
for their anniversary."); now ("The present time is a good
time."); ad. to be at a place ("I was present at school
yesterday.")
president - n. the chief official of a country that is a
republic; the leader of an organization
press - v. to urge strongly; n. newspapers, magazines and
other publications
pressure - n. the force produced when something is pushed down
or against something else
prevent - v. to keep or stop from going or happening
price - n. the amount of money for which anything is bought,
sold or offered for sale
prison - n. a place where a person is kept as punishment for a
crime
private - ad. of or about a person or group that is secret;
opposite public
prize - n. something offered or won in a competition;
something of value that one must work hard for to get
probably - ad. a good chance of taking place; a little more
than possible
problem - n. a difficult question or situation with an unknown
or unclear answer
process - n. an operation or series of changes leading to a
desired result
produce - v. to make; to create; to cause something to be; to
manufacture
profession - n. a job that requires special training
professor - n. a teacher at a
college or university
profit - n. money gained from a business activity after paying
all costs of that activity
program - n. a plan of action; the different events or parts
of a meeting or show
progress - n. movement forward or toward improvement or a goal
project - n. a planned effort to do something
propaganda - n. ideas or information used to influence
opinions
property - n. anything owned by someone such as land,
buildings or goods
propose - v. to present or offer for consideration
protect - v. to guard; to defend; to prevent from being harmed
or damaged
protest - v. to speak against; to object
prove - v. to show to be true
provide - v. to give something needed or wanted
public - ad. of or about all the people in a community or
country; opposite private
publication - n. something that is published such as a book,
newspaper or magazine
publish - v. to make public something that is written; to
include something in a book, newspaper or magazine
pull - v. to use force to move something toward the person or
thing using the force; opposite push
pump - v. to force a gas or liquid up, into or through
punish - v. to cause pain, suffering or loss for doing
something bad or illegal
purchase - v. to buy with money or with something of equal
value; n. that which is bought
pure - ad. free from anything that is different or that
reduces value; clean
purpose - n. the reason or desired effect for doing something;
goal
push - v. to use force to move something away from the person
or thing using the force; opposite pull
put - v. to place; to set in position
Q
quality - n. that which something is known to have or be ("An
important quality of steel is its strength."); amount of value
or excellence ("Their goods are of the highest quality.")
question - v. to ask; to express wonder or disbelief; n. a
sentence or word used in asking for information; a problem; an
issue to be discussed
quick - ad. fast
quiet - ad. with little or no noise; having little or no
movement; calm
R
race - v. to run; to take part in a competition to decide who
or what can move fastest; to take part in a campaign for
political office; n. one of the major groups that humans can
be divided into because of a common physical similarity, such
as skin color
radar - n. a device that uses radio signals to learn the
position or speed of objects that may be too far away to be
seen
radiation - n. waves of energy from something that produces
heat or light; energy from a nuclear substance, which can be
dangerous
radio - n. the system of sending and receiving signals or
sounds through the air without wires
raid - v. to make a sudden attack; n. a sudden attack carried
out as an act of war, or for the purpose of seizing or
stealing something
railroad - n. a road for trains; a company that operates such
a road and its stations and equipment
rain - n. water falling from the sky
raise - v. to lift up; to move to a higher position; to cause
to grow; to increase
rare - ad. not common; not usual; not often
rate - n. speed; a measure of how quickly or how often
something happens; the price of any thing or service that is
bought or sold
reach - v. to put a hand toward; to arrive at; to come to
react - v. to act as a result of or in answer to
read - v. to look at and understand the meaning of written
words or numbers
ready - ad. prepared; completed; organized; willing
real - ad. true; truly existing; not false
realistic - ad. in agreement with the way things are
reason - n. the cause for a belief or act; purpose; something
that explains
reasonable - ad. ready to listen to reasons or ideas; not
extreme; ready or willing to compromise
rebel - v. to act against a government or power, often with
force; to refuse to obey; n. one who opposes or fights against
the government of his or her country
receive - v. to get or accept something given, offered or sent
recent - ad. a short time ago
recession - n. a temporary reduction in economic activity,
when industries produce less and many workers lose their jobs
recognize - v. to know or remember something or someone that
was known, known about or seen before; to accept another
nation as independent and establish diplomatic ties with its
government
record - v. to write something in order to have it for future
use; to put sound or pictures in a form that can be kept and
heard or seen again; n. a writing that shows proof or facts
about something
recover - v. to get again something that was lost, stolen or
taken away ("The police recovered the stolen money."); to
return to normal health or normal conditions She is expected
to recover from the operation.")
red - ad. having the color like that of blood
reduce - v. to make less or smaller in number, size or amount;
to cut
reform - v. to make better by changing; to improve; n. a
change to a better condition
refugee - n. a person who has been forced to flee because of
unjust treatment, danger or war
refuse - v. to reject; to not accept, give or do something
regret - n. a feeling of sadness or sorrow about something
that is done or that happens
reject - v. to refuse to accept, use or believe
relations - n. understandings or ties between nations; members
of the same family; people connected by marriage or family
ties
release - v. to free; to permit to go; to permit to be known
or made public
religion - n. a belief in, or the honoring of, a god or gods
remain - v. to stay in a place after others leave; to stay the
same
remains - n. a dead body
remember - v. to think about the past; opposite forget
remove - v. to take away or take off; to put an end to; to
take out of a position or office
repair - n. work done to fix something
repeat - v. to say or do again
report - v. to tell about; to give the results of a study or
investigation; n. the story about an event; the results of a
study or investigation; a statement in which the facts may not
be confirmed
represent - v. to act in the place of someone else; to
substitute for; to serve as an example
repress - v. to control or to restrict freedoms by force
request - v. to ask for; n. the act of asking for
require - v. to need or demand as necessary
rescue - v. to free from danger or evil
research - n. a careful study to discover correct information
resign - v. to leave a position, job or office
resist - v. to oppose; to fight to prevent
resolution - n. an official statement of agreement by a group
of people, usually reached by voting
resource - n. anything of value that can be used or sold
responsible - ad. having a duty or job to do ("He is
responsible for preparing the report."); being the cause of
("They were responsible for the accident.")
rest - v. to sit, lie down or sleep to regain strength; n.
that which remains; the others
restrain - v. to keep controlled; to limit action by a person
or group
restrict - v. to limit; to prevent from increasing or becoming
larger
result - v. to happen from a cause; n. that which follows or
is produced by a cause; effect
retire - v. to leave a job or position because one is old or
in poor health
return - v. to go or come back; to bring, give, take or send
back
revolt - v. to protest violently; to fight for a change,
especially of government
rice - n. a food grain
rich - ad. having much money or goods; having plenty of
something
ride - v. to sit on or in and be carried along; to travel by
animal, wheeled vehicle, airplane or boat
right - n. what a person legally and morally should be able to
do or have ("It is their right to vote."); ad. agreeing with
the facts; good; correct; opposite wrong; on the side that is
toward the east when one is facing north; opposite left
riot - v. to act with many others in a violent way in a public
place; n. a violent action by a large group of people
rise - v. to go up; to go higher; to increase; to go from a
position of sitting or lying to a position of standing
risk - n. the chance of loss, damage or injury
river - n. a large amount of water that flows across land into
another river, a lake or an ocean
road - n. a long piece of hard ground built between two places
so people can walk, drive or ride easily from one place to the
other
rob - v. to take money or property secretly or by force; to
steal
rock - n. a hard piece of mineral matter
rocket - n. a device shaped like a tube that moves through air
or space by burning gases and letting them escape from the
back or bottom, sometimes used as a weapon
roll - v. to turn over and over; to move like a ball
room - n. a separate area within a building with its own walls
root - n. the part of a plant that is under the ground and
takes nutrients from the soil
rope - n. a long, thick piece of material made from thinner
pieces of material, used for tying
rough - ad. not flat or smooth; having an uneven surface;
violent; not made well
round - ad. having the shape of a ball or circle
rub - v. to move something over the surface of another thing
rubber - n. a substance made from the liquid of trees with the
same name, or a similar substance made from chemicals
ruin - v. to damage severely; to destroy
rule - v. to govern or control; to decide; n. a statement or
an order that says how something must be done
run - v. to move quickly by steps faster than those used for
walking